After coup, Thai army summons Shinawatra family

Thailand's ruling military on Friday summoned the entire ousted government and members of the politically influential family at the heart of the country's long-running conflict, a day after it seized control of this volatile Southeast Asian nation in a non-violent coup.

There was virtually no military presence on Bangkok's streets, which were less crowded than usual but still filled with vendors and people heading to work after a 10 pm - 5 am curfew the night before.

There were no reports of overnight violence. Countries including the United States, Japan and Australia expressed concern and disappointment over the coup, with the US saying there was "no justification" for the takeover, Thailand's second in eight years.

It was unclear why more than 100 peodple, including the ousted prime minister and several members of the influential Shinawatra family, were ordered to report to the army, which said it was summoning the high-profile figures "to keep peace and order and solve the country's problems."

Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sacked earlier this month for nepotism by the Constitutional Court, and her temporary replacement Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, arrived at an army compound in Bangkok by midday on Friday, Yingluck's aide confirmed.

After about 30 minutes, Yingluck left the facility and was taken to another army location by soldiers, the aide said. The coup was launched while the military hosted a meeting of political rivals at the same compound for what was billed as a second round of talks on how to resolve the country's political deadlock.

After two hours of inconclusive talks, armed soldiers detained the participants, including four Cabinet ministers, and army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha appeared on national television to announce the takeover.

Prayuth said on Thursday that he had to act to restore stability and "quickly bring the situation back to normal" amid increasing spasms of violence that together with controversial court rulings had rendered the government powerless and the country profoundly divided between the wealthy urban elite who disdain the Shinawatra family and their supporters among the rural poor majority.

The military suspended the constitution and the Cabinet and banning gatherings of more than five people, a risky bid to end half a year of political upheaval that many fear will only deepen the nation's crisis.